Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!


Hey all! Hope your holidays were all very merry and bright. I hope you were able to be with family, and eat, eat, eat. I hope you were able to be creative, however that looks for you.

We had a fabulous time on Sunday with my older sister, her husband, and son. Everyone seemed very relaxed, the food was simple yet elegant, and I didn't tear up at all! I hope this is the first of many family gatherings this year.

As for myself and the new year, I have decided to forgo resolutions, or even goals this year. Instead, I have picked one word to focus on, and to remind me of all I can be this year. My word is "intentionality". I don't care if it is a real word, or not, but it works for me. I want to be very intentional in everything that I do- whether it is exercise, teaching, art, or chores.

Another inspiration to motivate you: In the last two weeks, I have heard many people use a particular phrase to sum up their thoughts and plans for this new year: "Create in 2008". This is my new motto, folks!

My invisible friend Tami relayed this link to her blog buddies, and it really spoke to me. We all have things we want to do, but don't. So- habits from actions this year, not resolutions.

New habits:
Action: Walk 30 minutes outside three days a week in morning
Benefit: Fresh air, sunshine, energy, and free time for creative thoughts

Action: Be aware and intentional about food, exercise, and sleep.
Benefit: Becoming at ease with taking care of ME.

Action: Art journaling daily.
Benefit: Creating a log of this year, practicing new techniques in a small format, "brain drain"

Action: write all birthdays into my agenda-book. Check dates at beginning of each month. Use new techniques learned in journaling to make birthday cards for loved ones.
Benefit: Master new skills, acknowledge loved ones, show off a bit.

Action: Spend 1 hour a day on house chores.
Benefit: No guilt for being in studio if laundry is done and floors swept. Also creates a warm, welcoming home without having to devote an entire week to getting it (and nothing else) done.

Action: Acknowledge my kids and Man daily. If you don't know it already, acknowledgment is a very powerful tool for family communication, especially with teens.
Benefit: Works better than coersion or force, establishes trust, makes it easier to smile and mean it.
This is all I have so far, but I reserve the right to add a couple more this week.
LB

3 comments:

Mama Podkayne said...

Hey lady! I'm doing the one word focus too. I was just about to post about it....

I am glad to see you are well and in the studio again. :)

Anonymous said...

Cool for you! Great motivational steps, and a fabulous example for the rest of us.

Idea: Are those teens old enough to have a chore of doing laundry? Seems like I did at their age...

Looking forward to seeing what you create in 2008!

E-hugs,

P

Ami said...

It's really nice to see you back and blogging.

I am living vicariously through your creations, since I am about as artistic as a rock. Not very.